The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-02-24

bali drops in Washington the y o'clock
alarm is sounded in the store.
OUR MAN ON THE OUTSIDE.
CHIPS FROM HATCHETT.
With the utmost caution and prudence,
and with the strongest determination to be
fair i'll our criticisms of men and things, it
must sometimes happen, (for we do not
profess to be infallible.) we may appear
unfair or incorrect. If such shall ever be
the case, these columns are open for eX-
PLANTATION and Justification.
Two French officers have discovered
new substance, said to be one hundred times
more powerful than dynamite This new
powder is known as "Melinite," and in its
manufacture ether is used largely. II
there is a European war, it will be an easy
matter for our friends across the brinV deep
to dispose of some of their surplus Nihilist,
without sending them over here to inStigate
riot and blOOd-Shed.
Samuel Young, the native African whose
presence in this Office was mentiOnd in last
weeks issue, came in again yesterday to see
Thad X. with a cOunternance Wreathed in
smiles. Some one had told him Thad had
brother in Africa, and he came in to
claim kinship which our senior was loath
to admit. If we had known more about
his relations we would never have written
that article on our black and tan Legis-
lature. We would have had more respect
for his family ties.
While there is nothing in the appearance
of our street lamps to particularly inspire
our poetic muse, in gazing at them in a
murky night, we Can but remember the
first couplet we ever lisped,
'Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How l wonder what you are"
Let our man of light immerse the globes
in water to which caloric has been mOder-
ately applied, followed by the gentle fric-
ton of soft sponge, and we will have
more light on the subject"
THE FENCE LAW.
The present Legislature is trying their
best to put themselves on record as the
most ignorant and ignominious that ever
undertook to frame laws for State. If
they had the sonse of ordinary mortals
they must have learned before this that in
every section of the South where reforma-
ton in the Stock Law has been attempted
since the war, it has been met with the
vilest opposition of demagogues, and been
approved by the thinking, practical men;
that notwithstanding this great opposition
in the commencement, there is not a single
community in the South where the law has
been in operation for two wears that it could
be repealed by vote Of the people. Our
Legislators oppose the Stock Law because
they are either too ignorant to know what
is best, or because they think it may enable
them to be reelected. If they were smart,
and knew how the public will change its
mind after two years trial. they would
know that their very opposition to what
they deem unpopular now, will of itself de-
feat them at the next election. They talk
about high taxation, economy in admins
tratiOn of tie States concerns, &C., yet
they would put upon Us fence tax, greater
by five hundred times than all other taxes
combined-a tax which every five years
amounts to about the value of the land
An arbitrary tax which compelS man to
do from one to three hundred dollars worth
of fencing in order that some ones pine
rOoter (WOrth about two and half dOllars)
may run al large and treSpa5S upon whom
he will: AS we'll compel man to lock his
smoke house or his corn crib as require him
to fence his grass or his crop. We fail to
see how any man who is fair and honorable
can insist on law that will not only en-
able him to do it, but forces his neighbOr
to let him raise his stock at the expense of
Others
THE PRESIDENT AND THE TEXAS SEED BILL.
President Cleveland in his message We
l.,
II can find no warrant for such an apprO-
priation in the Constitution; and l do not
believe that the power and duty of the gen.
eral government ought to be extended to
the relief of individual suffering which is
in no manner properly related to the pub
lie service or benefit. ) prevalent ten
dency to disregard the limited mission of
this power and duty should, l think, be
steadfastly resisted, to the end that the les
son should be constantly enforced that
though the people support the government,
the government should not support the
people.
1t is gratifying to know the President is
. at last paying some attention to warrant
found in the Constitution for relief eX,
tended to private suffering. Fad he adopt
ed these views i'll the first year of his add
! ministration, it is probable he would have
vetoed more private pension bills. From
the statement made by the Texas Senator
that his State was amply able TO take care
of itself, Mr.. Cleveland was right tC
vetoe the bill; and had he given this alone
as his reason, his course would not have
Leen liable to the Inconsistency SO appa-
rent To sanction bills for individual, and
corporate emOlument, and then call dis
tresSing visitation OF providence SO VIDE
spread over one of or largest States as tt
make it public calamity, individual suf
/ fering" seems to be miSapplicatiOn OF
/ language. Though the people support
! the government, the government should
not support the people" The toiLtng mas
of the people support the gorernase'lt, and
. the g9cernnaent satlports, IN ease and lux
ury, the Moneyed Kings of Wall street, anC
the railroad magnates. Our people are
willing to support the government" bu
/ they are getting awfully tired of having Il
support, In addition. the governments mil
liOnare pets. If it be government of tht
peopie-a Democratic government, let the
burdens be made more equal-stop the 0p
preston of the poor thousands for the ben
eft of the wealthy few. We are willing Il
accord our Chief Magistrate the intention
to do right, but he is but mortal, and sur
rounded as he IS by an atmosphere preg
nant with the class legislation ideas thai
have prevailed so long at the National Cap
10 done liz natarr,al yioilauce :"